King Charles and Queen Camilla visit Oxfordshire charity

King Charles III and Queen Camilla waved off van drivers as they left the South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance (SOFEA) surplus food distribution centre in Didcot.

The royal couple visited the centre to kick-start the King's Coronation Food Project, which aims to bridge the gap between food waste and food need across all four nations of the United Kingdom.

READ MORE: SGN gas work in Oxford's Botley Road has no fixed end date

Charles and Camilla were given a tour of the South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance, part of FareShare, a national network of charitable food redistributors.

The king, who turns 75 today, found himself twice serenaded with Happy Birthday as he and his wife met staff and volunteers to hear about the ways food waste can be used for social good.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive to mark the King's 75th birthday at the official launch of The Coronation Food Project, which aims to bridge the gap between food waste and food need across all four nations of the United Kingdom, at the South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance (SOFEA) surplus food distribution centre, in Didcot (Image: PA)

The King launched the initiative to mark his birthday this morning in London  – and surprised a Big Issue seller with a generous donation.

The head of state has penned an article for the latest Big Issue edition about food waste and those in need and he handed seller Kelvin £10 for the magazine costing £4 at the end of the event.

The 61-year-old, who has been homeless for periods of his life since a teenager, joked afterwards: “He gave me cash, that does prove something – he does carry money.”

Kelvin, whose pitch is outside Somerset House, added: “He asked if I was in accommodation and about selling the Big Issue. I said it’s got me through the bad times and it has a positive social message.

He said about the Coronation Food Project: “I think it goes to show he cares, he’s reaching out to the general public.”

The King’s 75th birthday will be a working day for the monarch marked by gun salutes across the capital.

Charles will also host a Buckingham Palace reception highlighting the work of nurses and midwives over the decades as part of the NHS 75 celebrations.